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Why People Agree to Participate in Surveys

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Handbook of Survey Methodology for the Social Sciences

Abstract

This chapter addresses a major question regarding survey research—why do people agree to participate. We present a framework for explaining survey response. This framework has various stages, and is applicable to all modes of data collection—mail, personal interview, telephone, and web. Next, we discuss six theories from the literature that have been used—to a greater or lesser extent—to explain survey response behavior. Such theories have been applied to the appeals to participate and to overall research design and technique that would encourage and facilitate respondent completion and submissions. Specific data collection techniques that can have an effect on response quantity and quality are then discussed briefly (these topics are discussed elsewhere in this book). Finally, the matter of effect of topic is presented. Both interest in topic and sensitivity of topic have potential impacts on response rate and data quality.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Robert O. Anderson Schools of Management, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    Gerald Albaum

  2. Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA

    Scott M. Smith

  3. Qualtrics, Provo, UT, USA

    Scott M. Smith

Authors
  1. Gerald Albaum
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  2. Scott M. Smith
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Correspondence to Gerald Albaum .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, Tenth Ave. 899, New York, 10019, New York, USA

    Lior Gideon

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Albaum, G., Smith, S.M. (2012). Why People Agree to Participate in Surveys. In: Gideon, L. (eds) Handbook of Survey Methodology for the Social Sciences. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3876-2_11

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